BOISE, Idaho — New Mexico suffered a pair of block punts for touchdowns and UNM was forced to use three quarterbacks in the opening half, including Bryson Carroll, who was a graduate manager two weeks ago. UNM put up a solid defensive effort allowing just two offensive touchdowns, but UNM could get nothing goings offensively, and that spelled a 37-0 loss to Boise State on Senior Night for the Broncos.
UNM started Isaiah Chavez at quarterback and used Connor Genal in passing situations, but Chavez left in midway through the second quarter, injuring his already tender ankle. That forced Carroll into the game. Carroll was an option quarterback who played in two plays in 2017, and then switched the running back, but he didn’t see much action in 2018 and 2020. He stayed on scholarship but moved to a graduate manager’s role, but came back to the active roster last week.
New Mexico was down 7-0 before its defense stepped foot on the field as Kekaula Kaniho blocked an Aaron Rodriguez punt and Tyreque Jones picked it up and scored from seven yards out for a 7-0 lead. UNM’s defense was stout in the half, allowing just a field goal after that until a second blocked punt resulted in another touchdown. This time Alexander Teubner blocked the punt and Dylan Herberg picked up the ball at the six and ran it in.
It looked like it would be 17-0 into the break, but Boise State got a massive break when Genal was hit as he was throwing, and the ball traveled about 15 yards downfield in what looked to everyone to be an incomplete pass. BSU picked the ball up, and with no whistle blown, returned the ball, although a penalty knocked them back. A long replay review didn’t change anything despite some vehement protests of the Lobo coaches, who got a pretty good look at the play on the video board which included a telling closeup.
BSU took over with 17 seconds left and after a deep incompletion, the Bronco offense connect for its only offensive TD of the half as Hank Bachmeier hit Khalil Shakur for a 56-yard touchdown as the clock expired.
UNM never let up, but couldn’t amass much offensively. The Lobos got down to the Bronco 35-yard line late in the third, but a sack knocked UNM back and Genal came in and overthrew Trace Bruckler with JL Skinner picking the ball off at the 20-yard line, ending the threat.
Boise State didn’t get a second offensive touchdown until 10:48 to go in the game when Jack Sears ran in from a yard-out after a pass interference penalty in the end zone extended the drive for BSU. UNM mustered just 101 yards, getting there on the final play of the game.